To say the fight took place in the proverbial telephone booth didn't do it justice. It was more like the combatants were handcuffed together because of all the toe-to-toe action throughout the 12-round bout.
Despite cuts around both eyes, Mexico City's Cecilio "Boga" Santos dropped in enough punishing right hands to the head along with effective body work to defeat Puerto Rico's Omar "El Ardillo" Adorno by majority decision in Friday night's main event and capture the vacant World Boxing Organization's Latin Super Bantamweight championship before an raucous crowd estimated at 2,600 at the Kissimmee Civic Center.
The seven-bout card was televised by Telemundo and promoted by Tuto Zabala's All-Star Boxing, "The New Generation."
Santos improved to 20-7-2 (12 KOs) and snapped a two-bout losing skid. On the other hand, Adorno (16-7-1, 10 KOs) saw his two-fight winning streak stopped. There were no knockdowns in the bout and neither fighter appeared in serious danger of going down.
But after Santos suffered a cut to his left eye in the seventh round, he picked up the intensity and jumped on Adorno with a four-punch combination, along with an uppercut at the end of the round. Adorno suffered a cut to his left eye the previous round.
Santos consistently scored with looping right hands to the head. And Adorno responded with left hand uppercuts and right hand leads that easily found Santos, who was not far away and ready himself to return fire.
There were some anxious moments for Santos and his corner before the start of the ninth round as referee Frank Gentile brought in the ring doctor to look at Santos' left eye. Santos landed a solid right hand to Adorno's head at the end of the round.
With the usual in-close fighting, Santos complained of a head butt in the 10th that opened a cut in the corner of his right eye. As he did in the seventh, Santos picked up the pace and finished off the round with unanswered combinations to the head and body. To his credit, Adorno landed a thudding left hook midway through the round.
The ring doctor again examined Santos before the beginning of the 11th round. Adorno scored with a solid right hand followed by a left-right combo. Santos answered with a right counter that landed.
The 12th was the first time in the fight either fighter gave ground as Santos circled and Adorno moved forward. But like a magnet, both fighters gravitated toward the center of the ring. Santos appeared to get the better of Adorno multiple combinations. Santos began celebrating with about 10 seconds to go and simulated throwing a bolo punch as the final bell sounded.
"(Santos) came in pretty good shape and came out very aggressive," said Mario Santa Maria, who worked the Santos corner. "He did good work with his jabbing and straight right hands "
"Yes, I think we won, but it was a close decision," said Adorno trainer Jose M. Cuadrado.
Judge Mike Ross scored it 117-111 for Santos, while judge Howard Reichbach favored Santos 116-112. Judge Fred Fluty scored it 114-114. Fightnews saw Santos winning 118-111.
BERRIO DECISIONS WALKER
By Bill Skog at ringside
Jailer Berrio won a six round unanimous decision over Johnny Walker. Berrio was the busier fighter throughout the fight. Walkers' best moment came in the second when he landed a clean counter left hook which momentarily stunned Berrio. Walker however was not able to capitalize and offered up very little for the remainder of the fight. All three judges scored it 60-54. Fight news had it 59-55 giving the second round to Walker. Berrio improves to 9-1. Walker has now dropped 17 in a row and now has a record of 18-20.
ALVAREZ WINS DECISION
By Randy Hammons at ringside
Puerto Rico's Jenkins Alvarez won a majority decision over Pensacola's Kevin Hudgins in a four-round super bantamweight scrap. There were no knockdowns. Alvarez (5-7-1, 1 KO) was easily the busier fighter in the first two rounds before he appeared to tire and Hudgins (4-5, 2 KOs) made him pay the last two rounds with left-right combinations. A combination from Hudgins sent Alvarez's mouthpiece flying in the third round. In the first two rounds, Alvarez scored with solid right hands to the head. To his credit, Hudgins withstood the assault by holding on.
MIRANDA WINS DEBUT
By Randy Hammons at ringside
In a four-round cruiserweight bout between a pair of fighters making their professional debuts, Puerto Rico's Vincent Miranda won a unanimous decision over Cuba's Miguel Herrera. Miranda used good movement throughout the bout and consistently landed solid right hands to the head. A number of those right hands knocked Herrera's head back. There were no knockdowns. Herrera landed enough with his right hand to put a mouse under Miranda's left eye. Miranda won 40-36 on two cards and 39-37 on the other.
GONZALEZ WINS BY TKO
By Randy Hammons at ringside
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In a four-round junior lightweight bout, Homestead's Orlando Gonzalez (3-0-1, 1 KO) won by TKO at 2:11 of the third round over Kissimmee's Miguel Orengo (0-1). A right hook floored Orengo early in the third round. Referee Brian Garry stepped in to stop it after Gonzalez landed another solid right hook that hurt Orengo.
CLAUDIO STOPS COLON
By Bill Skog at ringside
In an exciting opener in front of 2100 energized fans, Carlos Claudio scored a third round TKO over Luis Colon. Round one started out with the southpaw Claudio landing several solid straight left which hurt Colon. Colon showed heart and survived the onslaught and came on strong in the second. The third round was back and forth action when finally Claudio landed a huge left hook which put Colon out on his feet. The referee mercifully stopped the bout after a final Claudio barrage with one second left in the round. Claudio is now 1-0-1 while Colon falls to 0-1.
MENDEZ TOPS RIVERA
By Bill Skog at ringside
Mike Menendez won a six round unanimous decision over Hector Rivera. Menendez landed lead right against the lefty Rivera. Two judges had it 59-55 and the second had it 60-54 as did FightNews.